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Čížečku, čížečku facts for kids

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This little birdie knows everything about the poppies

Čížečku, čížečku (pronounced "Chee-zheh-choo, Chee-zheh-choo") is a very old and much-loved Czech children's folk song. It's also a fun singing game! Long ago, people used to perform this song every year. They believed it would help their poppy plants grow strong and give a good harvest.

What is "Čížečku, čížečku"?

This song is special because it's a "call and response" song. This means one person or group sings a question, and another person or group sings the answer. It's like a musical conversation! The song is about a little bird, a siskin, and how poppies are grown.

The Song's Special Message

The song starts with a question to the little siskin bird. It asks the bird to share the secret of how poppies are grown.

  • Call (Question):*

Siskin, o little Siskin, a little birdie, Tell me o Siskin how the poppy is sown.

  • Response (Answer):*

This is how the poppies are sowed (repeated, with variations).

In the Czech language, it sounds like this:

  • Call:*
Čížečku, čížečku, ptáčku maličký,
pověz mi čížečku, jak sejou mák?
  • Response:*
Aj tak, tak sejou mák, aj tak, tak sejou mák,
aj tak, tak sejou mák, tak sejou mák.

Acting Out the Poppy Story

The best part about "Čížečku, čížečku" is that it's also a singing game. As the song continues, the word "sowed" changes to describe different stages of a poppy's life. With each new word, children act out the action! This makes the song very interactive and fun. It can even be turned into a dance!

From Seed to Snack: Poppy Stages

The song follows the journey of the poppy, from planting to eating. Here are the actions children might perform:

  • Grows: Showing how the plant gets taller.
  • Blossoms: Pretending the flowers open up.
  • Harvested: Acting like they are gathering the poppy seeds.
  • Is milled (or "crushed"): Showing how the seeds are ground into a powder.
  • Is eaten: Mimicking eating something delicious made with poppy seeds.

Why Poppies? A Czech Tradition

Poppies have been an important crop in the Czech Republic for a very long time. Their seeds are used in many traditional Czech foods, especially in pastries and desserts. Think of poppy seed rolls or cakes! So, this song was a way to celebrate the poppy harvest and hope for a good crop each year. It connects children to their culture and the history of farming.

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